In their seven-plus seasons in D.C., the Nationals have never gone 6-0 on a road trip. The way things are going in 2012, this probably won't be the last time they have an opportunity to do something they've never done before.

If you're going to try to pull off your second straight sweep on the road, might as well send your ace to the mound. Yep, Stephen Strasburg gets the nod, looking to improve his record to 8-1 and the team's record to 11-2 when he starts. He'll be opposed by young Kyle Drabek, the Blue Jays' key acquisition from the Phillies in the Roy Halladay trade several years back who to this point is an unimpressive 8-14 with a 5.26 ERA in 29 career starts.

One key change to the Nationals' lineup for this afternoon's getaway matinee at Rogers Centre: Adam LaRoche is not starting for the first time since May 7 (when he missed four games with an oblique strain). So Tyler Moore makes his first career start at first base in LaRoche's place.

Enjoy the game and the conversation as the Nats try to finish off a perfect road trip…

This sort of reminds me of the pre-Soriano days at RFK, when the Nats would hit balls to the warning track, and the other teams would be putting them in the seats. The Jays' flies don't seem to be carrying, do they?

If both Ronald Reagan and Vladimir Lenin liked the proverb, it clearly has no political slant. I I suppose what it really means is "verify before trusting," which is what I tried to do when I went back to find Scooter's impressively prescient comment. It didn't take long to realize that I wouldn't find a post on Feb. 30, even though this is a leap year. Scooter's downfall was he got greedy. We didn't hear that Morse was injured until March if I'm not mistaken.

Oh, and 222:Scooter's downfall was he got greedy. We didn't hear that Morse was injured until March if I'm not mistaken.I tossed that in because I knew not everybody would be as clever as you, and might need an extra hint.

NatsJack in Florida said… jeffwx… I was kidding. It's just that he's the only name caller on this site. Just disagree with him one time.Yeah, but disagree with Steve M. and he'll go crying to Mark and get your comments deleted.Really, which is worse?

Coolest things Mark will never write again:"The Nationals have never gone 6-0 on a road trip.""The Nationals have never won a game at Fenway.""The slugger Tyler Moore is the only Nats position player on the current roster without a home run this year."Other nominations?

Not only a good time to bring Lidge in — and great to see he still can summon up his stuff — but two innings and 37 pitches waas plenty for Stammen. Now he could conceivably come in Saturday if we needed him, whereas if he'd pitched over 50 pitches you'd really want to give him at least three days rest. It would be fantabulous if we had any similar low-stress, low-leverage big leads against the Yanks late to send in Lidge — but I wouldn't count on it, so give him a shot now.

Gonat, intersting question about pitchers of record. It does seem that so many games are decided late, the starter doesn't get the decision.Going through the Schedule and Results page, I see Strasburg-Gonzalez-JORDAN have done it at least thrice (once winning all three), and that's about when I stopped counting. A couple of stretches went four in a row.

Two sweeps in a row! I may have to go buy a new broom for the evil empire's visit this weekend.Can't tell you all how much I wish I could join you tomorrow evening for the meet and greet of my imaginary friends. Raise a glass to all things Nationals for me and I in turn will raise my galss at home to you all. Okay, I might raise it tonight as well but just to practice.

Was this the first time this season that the Nats starters 3 games in a row were the pitchers of record?No, May 10-11-12. Strasburg, Gio, Znn beat the Pirates and the Reds twice; and again May 20-21-22, same guys against the O's, Phils and Phils.This is the first time they've gone five in a row this season, maybe ever.

Gonat said… Was this the first time this season that the Nats starters 3 games in a row were the pitchers of record?Not even the first time in the past week.6/6 Jackson W6/7 Wang L6/9 Strasburg W6/10 Gonzales WYou did say "pitcher of record" not "winning pitcher" after all.